The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-26
Col. Meetings. Duels.

An esteemed subscriber to THE CLARION,
residing in Texas, in response to the recent
suggestion of a correspondent, has copied
the following from THE Field of Honor"
by Truman:
One of the most noted and dangerous
American duelists WAS Col. McCIung,
fellvw-oficer with Jefferson Davis III the
First Mississippi Rifles, and who served
with distinction in the Mexican War.
McC'ung came of a good Virginia family,
being a nephew of Chief Justice Marshall !;
but when under the influence OF liquor
was morose and dictatorial. de moved TO
Mississippi in 1884, and had been in the
State only a few months when he became
involved in quarrel with Col. Allen, one
OF the most beloved and honored men in
Mississippi 1t was trivial quarrel, but
McClung refused to allow of any settlement
and brought the affair to duel. The
terms were such as would have seemed ex-
traordinary to the creole admirers of the
Code, says some writer, and ii is doubtful
whether they would have recognized it as
a legitimate duel. The two antagonists
were to stand forty PAGES apart, armed
with bowie knife and pistol, and were to
advance on each other firing at discretion.
Allen kept his pistol covering McClung as
he slowly advanced upon him. What was
the surprise of the audience TO see McClung
suddenly raise his pistol, aim and fire at a
distance of oyer one hundred feet Allen
fell to the ground shot through the mouth
and MORALLY wounded. Meetings. shot
ON this occasion is the best on record in
Southern duel, one hundred feet being
much longer range than the dueling pistol
is suited To.
II. AFoOI1..f.
affairs, in all OF which his opponents were
killed, one of them being his own cousin.
His last fight was with young Menefee,
near Vicksburg, just before the Mexican
War, ia the presence of large number of
spectators The weapons were Mississippi
rifles, distance sixty yards. McClung was
a dead shot, while Menetee, who had re-
Gently arrived in Mississippi from Ken
tuckv, was no novice with shooting irons.
The description of the duel is thus told by
a correspondent Sixty yards Was the dis
tsnce chosen, and when the seconds went
TO measure of the ground it was with great
difficulty that the crowd could be forced
back so as to allow the fight to go on. The
positions were taken and the rifles placed
in the combatants' hands. Are you
ready ?" "Ready ~ both firmly responded.
Fire one, two" here Meneiee's rife ex-
plOded ana the outlet WnlSllSu DN the DSdU
of McClung and lodged III tree that APP
peared to be on an exact line with the
BODY of the latter. 70 the surprise of
every one McClung, instead of firing his
piece, attempted to break 1t in hall and
with a fierce oath hurled it a distance OF
twenty feet away, where it alighted upon
a pile of sand and stuck, muzzle down,
several feet in ii. The seconds soon learned
the cause of this strange actIon-the gun
had hung fire. 1t was rescued, the sand
removed from the muzzle and reloaded
After an interval of ten minutes the COM
batants resumed their positions, and the
crowd gathered around thea again. Dur
ing the interval many bets had been
wagered on the result of the duel, the odds
being generally in favor of Menefee, who
was a popular favorite, and who was,
moreover, generally supposed to be more
proficient with the rifle. The word was
given again. This time McClung's piece
was more faithful Before MeneIee's fin
ger had pressed the trigger of his rifle, that
of Meetings. had been discharged, and
the bali striking the cock of Menefee's gun
hurled piece OF it deep into the brain of |
the unfortunate young man, who fell and |
died before he could be removed from the |
field. 1t is said that McClung, rising 10 |
his full height peered through the smoke |
to see If bis antagonist was surely dead. |
He then dropped upon his knees and press
ing his rifle tenderly TO his bosom, kissed |
it afiectionately as a lover would his mis-
tress, or a mother her child.